Biotic interactions such as predation may influence the success of invasive alien species (IAS). Although the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea is recognized as one of the most problematic aquatic IAS, few studies have investigated its use as a food resource. In this study, we aimed to investigate (i) the palatability of C. fluminea under natural (Minho River) and laboratory conditions and (ii) if C. fluminea submitted to different conditions (individuals from Lima and Minho Rivers) vary in palatability. Soft tissues from different Corbicula populations, plus soft tissues from a native clam, tuna and Corbicula shell powder were offered to consumers. Field assays were performed seasonally and laboratory assays only in summer; both assays also tested possible differences during distinct periods of the day. Overall, in natural conditions, the treatments containing C. fluminea had a low palatability. In laboratory assays, higher consumption (almost two times) was observed for Cyprinus carpio and Anguilla anguilla. Also, C. fluminea palatability was different between populations, with the treatment Corbicula Lima being more consumed than Corbicula Minho. Despite the low values of consumption in the field, laboratory results suggest that C. fluminea soft tissues can be a food resource to some species.This study was conducted as part of the
project FRESCHO: Multiple implications of invasive species on
Freshwater Mussel coextinction processes, supported by FCT
(contract: PTDC/AGRFOR/1627/2014). MI is supported by a
Post-doc grant (SFRH/BPD/90088/2012) from the Portuguese
Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT through POPH/FSE funds. RS also acknowledge the support of the strategic
programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P and by
the ERDF through the COMPETE2020—Programa Operacional
Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI)
